Frisch’s Presents The Nutcracker

Clara receives the gift of a lifetime when her beloved Nutcracker doll comes to life! Follow Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on a journey to a wondrous world full of fantastic characters.

The Snow Queen and her King will help you find your way to the Land of Sweets where the Sugar Plum and Cavalier are waiting to welcome you with sweet treats and exotic celebrations! Indulge yourself in Tchaikovsky’s most popular work, with live music by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and revel in the magic and wonder that is Cincinnati’s favorite holiday tradition.

Blanche’s Kitchen

Our story begins on Christmas Eve. There is a flurry of activity as the maids, butlers and chef prepare for a Christmas Eve party where friends and family of the Stahlbaum’s will gather to open presents and celebrate the holiday. The Stahlbaum’s son Fritz and their daughter Clara try their best to be helpful, but that is not without its complications.

The Party

The Stahlbaum living room is bright and festive with the most beautiful Christmas tree imaginable. All the guests and children are having a marvelous time dancing, laughing and opening gifts when suddenly, Herr Drosselmeyer bursts into the room. He is an older, mysterious doll maker, who can surprise all with unexpected acts of magic. With the swipe of his cloak, dresses change colors and dancing dolls appear. One doll is so beautiful that Clara bravely asks if she could have the doll for Christmas. But Mother Stahlbaum is clear that this will not be possible. Clara is sad until the magical Drosselmeyer places the most colorful and adorable Nutcracker in her hands. She joyfully dances around the room showing off her splendid gift. Fritz wishes that Drosselmeyer had given him the Nutcracker and in his frustration, grabs it from Clara and breaks it. Immediately, the precocious Fritz is scolded by his father and sent off to bed. Herr Drosselmeyer, watching from across the room, comes to the rescue and mends the Nutcracker. The festivities continue well into the night, highlighted with a stately dance initiated by Clara’s grandparents. As the evening comes to an end, and the guests depart to their own homes, Drosselmeyer is the last to bid the family farewell. Just before heading up to bed, Herr Stahlbaum brings out one last gift. He fastens a beautiful and elegant necklace around his wife’s neck and there is one last embrace before the parlor grows quiet and dark.

The Battle

Clara, with candle in hand, sneaks down the stairs to check on her beloved Nutcracker. She finds herself in the drawing room and is startled by the sound of scampering feet and the flickering of tiny eyes. Clara hears the chimes of the big grandfather clock striking midnight as a band of mischievous mice try to steal away her precious Nutcracker. Drosselmeyer appears out of the darkness and with the wave of his arms, the mice scurry as the tree, parlor furniture and toys begin to grow. A terrible battle ensues between the mice and the toy soldiers. The Mouse King appears frightening everyone. The Nutcracker, having escaped the clutches of the mice, has grown to life-size and challenges the Mouse King to a duel. It is a fierce fight but the Mouse King is distracted by Clara’s imaginary friend, Minnie, the poodle, allowing the Nutcracker to wound his foe. As the mice scamper away and the parlor once again grows quiet, Clara sees her Nutcracker magically transform into a handsome prince. He takes her hand as they begin their journey into a land of swirling snowflakes. In a flurry of transformation they find themselves in a magical snow forest. There, they meet the noble Snow Queen & King who dance with an entire snowstorm of flakes. Just as the storm subsides, a beautiful flying ornament descends to take Clara and her Nutcracker Prince to the Land of Sweets.

Act II

The Land of Sweets

As the curtain opens on Act II, we see a delightful assortment of filigree frosted cakes. It is the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Kingdom, an international land attracting people from all over the world because it is the sweetest place on the entire planet. All of the characters from the Land of Sweets are frolicking and playing together when suddenly, their Queen, the Sugar Plum Fairy, arrives. All bow to honor her and her cupcake and gingerbread boy attendants. The Sugar Plum Fairy graces them with a special dance when suddenly an enormous flying ornament appears carrying Clara and the Nutcracker Prince. The Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes them and they are treated to the kingdom’s most sumptuous delights. Clara is reunited with Minnie, her poodle, and together they recount the fierce battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The entire kingdom cheers as the Nutcracker reenacts his victory. Each character honors them with a special dance. As the celebration continues, the Land of Sweets transforms before their eyes into a beautiful garden full of flowers with flowing petals and one brilliant pink rose. Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cotton Candy Cavalier do a grand dance as a special treat for Clara. All the characters join together for a rousing finale. As their dancing concludes, the flying ornament descends to take Clara and her Prince high over the mountains, further and further away from the Land of Sweets. Suddenly, Clara opens her eyes and she finds herself at home in the parlor room with her imaginary friend by her side and her beloved Nutcracker watching over her, always.

Explore Frisch’s Presents the Nutcracker

Sirui joined Cincinnati Ballet in 2011 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in the 2017-2018 Season. This year in The Nutcracker, she will be dancing the roles of Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Rose. How long have you been dancing? Why did you become a dancer? I have been dancing for 24 years.😳 I have always had […]

Frisch’s Big Boy partnership with Cincinnati Ballet and The Nutcracker is a very longstanding one (almost 50 years, in fact!) Can you shed some light on how it came to be so many years ago? Way back in 1973, philanthropist and businessman John Magro approached Jack Maier, then the president of Frisch’s, about committing $150,000 right […]

Think you’ve seen every version of The Nutcracker that Cincinnati Ballet has produced over the years? If you’re only thinking about the big, full Company productions, that’s only part of The Nutcracker story at Cincinnati Ballet. Each year, the Otto M. Budig Academy presents its own mini-version of The Nutcracker at the Cincinnati Ballet studios, […]

If you’re a little girl who takes ballet, chances are you won’t have ‘visions of sugar plums’ dancing through your head, but rather visions of yourself dancing in The Nutcracker presented by Frisch’s Big Boy. The first role many young dancers dream about playing is Clara, the girl who receives a magical Nutcracker for a […]

The perfect holiday gift for friends and family is an adventure through the Land of Sweets with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince during The Nutcracker. November 26 only Cincinnati Ballet is offering steep Cyber Monday discounts on select Nutcracker performances. Cyber Monday Only MONDAY saves 20% off Nutcracker tickets Simply enter CYBERMONDAY into the box labeled “Promo Code” […]

We have so much to be thankful for this year, most of all YOU! We would love to see you this season and hope you add The Nutcracker to your holiday tradition this year. Now through Monday, take 20% off select performances of The Nutcracker. ACT NOW for 20% off Select Performances of The Nutcracker […]

The Nutcracker Presented by Frisch’s Big Boy, now in its 45th annual season, returns to the Music Hall from December 13 through 24, 2018. This year, the production has grown in a big way! Joining the cast is a brand-new character, based on the world’s most famous hippo – ‘Fiona.’ Cincinnati Ballet and Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical […]

Cincinnati Ballet’s Special Events Manager oversees more than 40 events each year, with everything from fundraising events for hundreds of attendees (such as An Intimate Evening and Club B) to cast parties and five annual gatherings for members of Étoile. Rachel Hinger pulls back the curtain on how long it can take to prepare for an event. In […]

Congratulations to all the talented young dancers who auditioned for The Nutcracker performances! We were impressed to have so much skill and enthusiasm grace our auditions. Below, you’ll find the official Nutcracker Kids Cast for 2018. You may also download the casting list here.

Don’t delay — make your plans now and join us for Cincinnati’s beloved holiday tradition, December 13 through 24, 2018 at Music Hall. Single tickets for the 2018-2019 Season go on sale Monday, August 6, but you can order your The Nutcracker tickets early AND get a great family deal! Special Two-Day Offer: Nutcracker in […]

Cincinnati Ballet is looking for talented young performers to be a part of this timeless holiday tradition. Auditions for The Nutcracker will be held at 1555 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45214. Download Young Performers Auditions Information sheet. Currently enrolled Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy students ONLY A $20 audition fee will apply to everyone […]

The perfect holiday gift for friends and family is an adventure through the Land of Sweets with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince during Frisch’s Big Boy Presents The Nutcracker. November 27 only Cincinnati Ballet is offering steep Cyber Monday discounts on select Nutcracker performances. Cyber Monday Only MONDAY saves 20% off Nutcracker tickets Simply enter MONDAY into the […]

Congratulations to all the talented young dancers who auditioned for Frisch’s Big Boy Presents The Nutcracker performances! We were impressed to have so much skill and enthusiasm grace our auditions. Below, you’ll find the official Nutcracker Kids Cast for 2017. You may also download the casting list here.

VIEW THE NUTCRACKER 2017 KIDS CAST Cincinnati Ballet is looking for talented young performers to be a part of this timeless holiday tradition. Auditions for The Nutcracker will be held at 1555 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45214. Download Young Performers Auditions Information sheet. Currently enrolled Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy students ONLY A $20 […]

Want to know which role your favorite dancer will perform during Frisch’s Presents The Nutcracker? Below you will find the official casting for Cincinnati Ballet Dancers during the second week of Nutcracker performances. Casting is subject to change.

The Nutcracker is the beloved holiday story of Clara, a little girl who embarks on a fantastical journey with her Nutcracker Prince through the Land of Sweets, meeting colorful and exciting characters along the way.